Hannah’s Surprise – An Amish Romance
Chapter One
“Hannah, would you please take some eggs to Mrs. Baumgartner and ask a fair exchange for some tallow candles? We’re running low again.”
Mrs. Beiler set two baskets with dozens of eggs on the kitchen counter for her daughter, then busied herself with the rest of her morning routine, humming a sacred hymn between bits of conversation.
“Yes, Mama.”
“Oh, and run by the Zook farm and exchange some eggs for some of Mrs. Zook’s canned fruit. Our small orchard isn’t quite ready to produce enough to supply our needs this season.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“Oh, and one other thing….”
“Stop by Mr. Fisher’s and ask for a fair exchange of bacon and hocks?”
Hannah picked up the two baskets and smiled patiently at her mother.
“Why, yes. How did you guess?” Mrs. Beiler asked, genuinely surprised.
“It’s Tuesday, mother. Every Tuesday you ask me to visit the Baumgartners, run by the Zooks, and stop by the Fishers. Then if there are any leftover eggs, I’m to take them to Sister Ana so she can distribute the remainder to those in need. It’s a very simple schedule which I learned when I was very young.”
Hannah couldn’t help keeping a slight hint of exasperation from her voice. Her mother raised a reproving eyebrow.
“’Tis true, and grateful to the Lord are we for the blessings this simple life provides.”
“Yes, Mama,” Hannah said, appropriately chastised. “I’m grateful as well, it’s just…”
But Mrs. Beiler had already disappeared out the back door, humming a different hymn, off to another chore, managing the household as any good Pennsylvania Amish wife and mother would.
Hannah sighed. “…It’s just that I wish for something more than living a life of mere routine,” she finished quietly to herself as she exited their farm house on the edge of town.
It was a beautiful morning, the sun was shining, and the fall flowers were blooming. Hannah smiled despite herself. She loved this life and had no thought of leaving the caring and familiar community of Ephraim, Pennsylvania.
But surely there was more to life than delivering eggs to neighbors every Tuesday!
“Good morning, Hannah.”
She looked up and saw her neighbor, Ethan Lapp, waiting for her at the end of their property.
“Are you talking to yourself again,” he teased gently.
Hannah’s cheeks flushed. “Guilty, I suppose. Will you walk with me to Mrs. Baumgartner’s?”
“I was going to ask if I may,” he said, and took one of the baskets from Hannah’s arms.
Ethan was a good man, twenty-one – the same age as Hannah – and a childhood friend. He wasn’t handsome in the traditional sense, but had strong features and deep set eyes that were kind and honest. He was a hard worker, an obedient son, and well regarded in the community. He’d make a fine Elder one day.
Hannah appreciated him. Respected him. Even liked him as a dear friend. The trouble was, he represented the tried and true, solidly conservative, traditional way of life Hannah was beginning to grow weary of. What made matters worse, both their parents expected them to be married within a few years.
“Are your parents well,” Ethan asked.
“Yes, thank you. And yours?”
“Blessed, thank you.”
Hannah couldn’t help but grimace at their standard conversation opener. She wondered what he would say if she told him one day that her parents were terribly upset, horribly depressed, and thinking of moving to another Amish community in Ohio. She squelched a little giggle.
“Is something funny?” Ethan asked sincerely.
Hannah cleared her throat. “Oh, nothing worth mentioning,” she said, truthfully. “But for some reason I just now thought of Ohio. Have you met the new couple who moved into the old Yoder place in town? I’d heard they just moved here from Millersberg, Ohio.”
Ethan’s cheeks reddened a bit, Hannah noticed. From embarrassment or consternation, she couldn’t tell.
“Yes,” he said evenly. “But they aren’t a couple, as you put it. They’re brother and sister, about our age, in fact. They left Ohio under curious circumstances, but beyond that I will not say as I do not wish to partake of gossip or hearsay.”
“Oh, I didn’t know,” Hannah said, surprised at her friend’s abrupt response. “They weren’t at services on Sunday and no one’s spoken of them other than to say they’ve just arrived and will be introduced to the community soon. Do you happen to know their names?”
“Jacob Hostetler and his sister Miriam.”
Hannah threw a sideways glance at Ethan. She couldn’t read his expression; her curiosity was sparked. She wondered why he suddenly clammed up. By the set of his mouth, Hannah could tell he didn’t want to speak about them anymore. This just made her all the more interested in finding out the mystery surrounding these two newcomers.
“Well, here we are,” she said as they stopped in front of the Baumgartner’s home. “Thank you for walking with me. I hope you have a blessed day. Relay kindness to your parents for me.”
Hannah almost rolled her eyes at her automatic conversation closer. Here she was, wanting to break from her regular routines but ending up following the same old conventions.
“God’s blessings to you as well,” Ethan said.
Just then, the front door opened and Mrs. Sarah Baumgartner ushered a young man out of the house and on to the porch.
“Thank you for coming over, Mr. Hostetler. Mr. Baumgartner and I will consider your proposal. Good day to you, now.”
Sarah looked up and saw Hannah and Ethan at the end of her walk. The young gentleman with her also turned and grinned.
Hannah stared at the man. His wide smile and tanned cheeks accentuated his beautiful white teeth. His shock of blond hair and broad shoulders helped frame his striking face and gave him an almost angelic glow. She gulped, her mouth suddenly dry.
“Ethan Lapp. Wonderful to see you again,” the young man said as he leapt off the porch and made his way to front gate. “Is this the sister you were telling me about?”
Ethan shuffled his feet and coughed slightly.
“Um, no. This is my neighbor, Hannah Beiler.” He turned to his friend. “Hannah, this is our newest resident, Mr. Jacob Hostetler.”
“Call me Jake,” the newcomer said as he took Hannah’s hand in both of his. “Pleased to meet you!”
Hannah swallowed, dumbstruck. She’d never seen a more handsome man. She couldn’t look away from his sky blue eyes.
“I, uh, um. Pleased to meet you as well,” she finally got out.
Jake’s laughter was innocent and contagious and Hannah joined in for no other reason than the joy of experiencing something new and unexpected.
Chapter Two
“Miriam, I’m telling you I just met my future bride.”
Jacob Hostetler washed and rinsed the noon day dishes while his sister dried. He couldn’t stop grinning and his sister couldn’t stop frowning.
“Jake, you were always the impetuous one. First, you have us moving across country, into a new community without so much as a thought. Now, in your mind, you’re already married!”
At twenty, Miriam was two years younger than her older brother but acted like a mother hen, reproving here, cautioning there. Conventional was just one word to describe her. Jake would say old fashioned, though she would have said sensible was the right word.
“I’m not impetuous. I’m decisive. You know we couldn’t stay in Millersberg, after the shunning our parents endured. It wasn’t our doing, their error and lack of repentance, but life could never be the same for us there. You know that, right?”
“Besides, you were the one who always complained there were no more traditionalist men back in Ohio. Though I thought Widower Smith would have made you a good husband.”
Jake winked. Miriam harrumphed.
“Widower Smith is twice my age. So no, there were no eligible traditionalist men my age in Millersberg.” Her tone grew wistful. “Maybe God has someone here in Ephraim set apart for me. Surely, he wouldn’t have brought us all this way only to abandon us.”
“Oh, I’m quite sure God has someone in mind for you, Miriam. He hasn’t abandoned us. In fact, I think your prayer has already been answered. I believe Ethan Lapp is quite smitten with you.”
“What, from meeting us just the one time?” Miriam was not impressed. “I got the distinct impression he was less than pleased to greet us on behalf of the Elders here. His welcome speech was polite enough but seemed to lack the warmth I expected coming from a brother in the faith. I fear we’ll remain outsiders for quite some time in this community.”
She hung up her dry towel and moved to the sitting room, picking up some needle work along the way. She sat in silence, focusing on the delicate design.
Jacob understood what she was going through. Though the Amish are often grouped together by those unfamiliar with their faith and values, there are actually a number of different Amish communities, each with their own particular traditions and styles of interacting with the outside world. Jacob and Miriam certainly knew that picking up and moving to a new community would not be without its trials and tribulations.
“Plus,” Miriam added from the other room, her hands busy with needle and thread, “without any prompting Mr. Lapp mentioned his next door neighbor and childhood friend, Hannah Beiler. If I’m not mistaken, I believe their future is already set.”
Jake chuckled and called back from the kitchen, “Only because both their fathers are Elders here in Ephraim. And I think he mentioned her in hopes you two could become friends. Remember, he also spoke of his older sister.”
To this, Jake received no reply. He dried his hands, grabbed his wide brimmed black felt hat, and headed for the door.
“Well, I’m off to see Mr. Fisher, the hog butcher. Maybe I can convince him to start selling his various cuts of meat at the Farmers Market every week up in York. I think we could generate more interest in our wares and produce if there were four or five us who traveled there together. It’s only a thirty minute ride by wagon, faster by buggy.”
Though he’d only arrived in Ephraim the week before, Jacob had already made contact with the organizers of a new Farmers Market in York, Pennsylvania. He’d been told that none of the Amish participated in their market due to some unspoken concern, but they were more than welcome to begin selling their products any time.
Well, that day was just around the corner. If only Jake could convince a handful of the families in his adopted community to take advantage of the opportunity. So far, he’d spoken with a half a dozen farmers, shop keepers, and industrious housewives, but with little to show for it.
Miriam called out, “Let me guess, Mrs. Baumgartner wasn’t interested in selling her candles in York either.”
Jake peeked his head around the corner and winked at his sister.
“Not yet!”
He then stepped into the sunshine and fresh air, whistling a tune he’d heard in town as he made his way to Mr. Fisher’s hog farm. Big plans filled his mind and he rehearsed what he was going to say to the hog butcher in order to incentivize the man to begin selling in the bigger town.
In a few moments, his pace quickened involuntarily. Not a hundred yards further up the road he spied Hannah Beiler walking the same direction. She was carrying two baskets, though one seemed to be empty for it swayed back and forth in such a carefree manner any contents would surely have fallen out by now. He was mesmerized by the rhythmic motion of her walk.
When he was a few yards behind her he began to whistle a little louder so as to not startle her. Hannah stopped and turned and beamed at him. She was beautiful. Her face shone in the sunlight like a cherub. Her rosy cheeks, engaging smile, and her expressive brown eyes communicated an unquenchable cheerful spirit.
“Why, Mr. Hostetler. Imagine that, running into you twice in one day!”
Her earlier shyness and endearing initial bit of stammering was gone. In front of him stood a confident, capable young woman and his first impression was confirmed. This was the woman he was going to marry. But now her outgoing demeanor took him off guard.
“Um, uh, yes. Rather fortuitous, don’t you think?” He blushed and hoped she didn’t notice.
“You’re blushing,” she said and laughed quietly at his obvious embarrassment.
“Oh, that. Must be the sun. It’s warmer here in Pennsylvania than in Ohio,” he deadpanned.
“Is that so? Then you’ll need one of these.”
She pulled an egg from one of her baskets and placed it in his outstretched hand.
“An egg?” Jake asked. “What’s this for?”
“Wash your face with warm water and egg white. It’ll help the sunburn.”
Hannah turned up the pathway to Mr. Fisher’s farm, leaving Jake behind.
“You’re joking with me, right?” he asked as he ran to catch up with her.
“Only one way to find out,” she said, betraying nothing with her slight smile.
Chapter Three
As soon as she had left Mrs. Baumgartner’s house, Hannah had been in a blissful daydream. She’d actually forgotten to leave Sarah the eggs and had walked off with the tallow candles, taking them home before realizing her mistake.
Her mother was surprised to see her as Hannah’s errands were nowhere near completed. Flustered, she’d turned around and delivered the eggs as originally planned. Mrs. Baumgartner didn’t mind the mix up, of course, but she did give Hannah an apprising and knowing look.
The second stop, the Zook’s farm, went a little better. But this time Hannah nearly forgot to fill her basket with the jars of fruit and Mrs. Zook had to stop her before she left the house. Still daydreaming, she’d taken the fruit home along with the remaining eggs and had to be reminded by her mother once more to be sure to stop by Mr. and Mrs. Fisher’s after lunch.
Now she was walking up the path to the Fisher’s farm with the man of her dreams beside her and she had a hard time not grinning like a silly school girl. That, and she couldn’t stop whispering his name to herself. Jacob Hostetler. Jake. Jake and Hannah. Jake and Hannah Hostetler. It had a very nice ring to it!
She just hoped she wasn’t too transparent with her inner thoughts. She’d just met him, after all. He might not share the same feelings. Though she suspected he did. He wasn’t put off by her little joke with the egg and showed similar signs of interest in her.
Time would tell, but first she had to make her delivery to the Fishers. She wondered idly what brought Jacob to this same farm, but before she could inquire as to his business, Mrs. Ava Fisher came out the front door and spoke to them in a stream of conversation that didn’t let up.
“Fish is out back, as usual. I’ll take the eggs. Feel free to interrupt whatever he’s doing and tell him you’ve given me three dozen, though I’ll only take two as we still have plenty left over. I just want to make sure your mother gets all the hocks and bacon she needs. I understand she’s in charge of the meal after church on Sunday, so she’ll need plenty of ham for the beans, if that’s what she plans on bringing, which I hope she does, as I always look forward to her cooking.”
“Okay, thank you very much,” Hannah interrupted as she handed Ava the basket of eggs and tried to make a quick escape around the side of the house.
Exiting a conversation with Ava Fisher wasn’t that easy. Ava wasn’t too much older than Hannah, but being a young mother of six children, one could tell she yearned for adult conversation and took advantage of the oppor
tunity whenever it came her way.
Ava looked at Jacob and said, “And who do we have here? A new beau for Hannah? Oh my, he’s a handsome one, that’s a certainty.”
She patted Hannah on the cheek whose face was reddening by the moment.
Jake saved his new friend any further unintended humiliation by extending a hand to Mrs. Fisher.
“I’m Jacob Hostetler, newly arrived with my sister Miriam to the community of Ephraim, ma’am. I’m here to speak to Mr. Fisher about a proposal I have in mind….”
Before he could finish his explanation, a gaggle of children burst through the open door and spilled into the front yard. There was a lot of yelling and a bit of kicking and hitting, which seemed to emanate from two young boys in the middle of the small crowd.
“Oh, Lord have mercy!” Ava said as she threw up her hands in a plea toward heaven. “Boys, you stop that right now!” Before she turned her back on her guests, the young mother reminded Jake and Hannah, “Fish is out back! Go find him yourself and we’ll see you Sunday.”
Then she was in the middle of her children, separating them out like roosters from hens in a chicken coop.
Jake and Hannah chuckled quietly to themselves as they rounded the corner of the house.
“Fish?” Jake asked, out of earshot.
“Zeke Fisher’s nickname. Everyone around here calls him Fish, except for my parents, of course, who are too formal for that sort of thing. Almost everyone has a nickname hereabouts. Isn’t it the same in the Amish community you came from in Ohio?”
“Yes, it’s the same. Two of my closest friends are both named Eli, so to distinguish them we always refer to whose son they are. John’s Eli and Samuel’s Eli.” Jake scratched his chin. “But Fish is a new one for me.”
“And what is your nickname, Mr. Hostetler?” Hannah asked demurely.
“Well, now that’s for me to know and you to find out.”
Her companion flashed a grin that melted her heart. Hannah now had a goal to work for and the thought of getting to know Jake better sent a pleasant shiver up her spine, despite the growing warmth of the day. She couldn’t wait to walk back to town with him and find out more about his life before coming to Pennsylvania.
Amish Superstition Page 1
